Does not bode well for Braun/Lujan or Lausch

[Medill '03]

I'm not saying anything novel here, but the way the season has (predictably) crumbled against OSU and Michigan doesn't bode well for Braun/Lujan (after next year) or Lausch (after this year). I like all of them. But now we know that NU will have to go to the transfer portal for QB yet again. Lausch doesn't have the best line or receivers or OC, but he's also not doing enough to warrant getting handed the job for next year. And Braun isn't likely to field a better team in 2025, barring some kind of shocking IU talent infusion. So that means he's got the most expensive CFB stadium of all time in 2026, and a new AD doesn't want to get stuck with a program in three years of decline and no sign of recovery. If you're gonna fire Braun, it's after 2025, not after year one of Ryan Field in 2026. If you're gonna lose big in the new stadium, it needs to be with a new coach who's plausibly building toward something. And they will need to completely turn the page on the Fitz regime, including all the staff he hired and developed.

Braun/Lujan and Lausch will have a chance to shock the world next year, or even next week. But that's what it will need to be at this point, a shock, and without the talent that Fitz had accumulated before they arrived.

 

[Rodenthater]

Remember there are only so many teams invited to the table , the rest of us are just playing for fun! D1 football is a game of paid mercenaries now! See Indiana!

 

[mesacat]

Why wait until end of 2025 although considering how bare the cupboard is and how tough the BIG 18 is. how do you. convince a quality candidate to take the job. $$ help but will only go so far.

 

[Baz=Heisman]

Why wait until end of 2025 although considering how bare the cupboard is and how tough the BIG 18 is. how do you. convince a quality candidate to take the job. $$ help but will only go so far.

Because he had a great season last year in an impossible circumstance. He’s earned three years. But if they suck next year (likely) he’s gotta go

 

[Medill '03]

Because he had a great season last year in an impossible circumstance. He’s earned three years. But if they suck next year (likely) he’s gotta go

Exactly. He gets another year because of last year. Next season is likely to be rough no matter what.

 

[Jaguar 88]

Why wait until end of 2025 although considering how bare the cupboard is and how tough the BIG 18 is. how do you. convince a quality candidate to take the job. $$ help but will only go so far.

A quality candidate would only take the job if the University adopted NIL. That is the only way this program is going to be competitive going forward. You are not going to be competitive in the B1G with recruiting mid tier 3 star recruits with the addition of new CFB powerhouses to the fold. With most of our old West division foes, 3-4 losses are already baked in the cake, and they embrace both the NIL and portal. The NCAA ruined CFB with both of these things.

 

[Styre]

Remember there are only so many teams invited to the table , the rest of us are just playing for fun! D1 football is a game of paid mercenaries now! See Indiana!

We are in the Big Ten. We are at the table.

 

[NUChicago]

We are in the Big Ten. We are at the table.

But for how long.....

 

[Vassar69]

We are in the Big Ten. We are at the table.

There are no free rides.

 

[FeralFelidae]

But for how long.....

We'll never be kicked out of the conference, but the top teams might leave us behind and start their own thing.

 

[SmellyCat]

I don't want Deion Sanders, but what NU really needs is a coach so exciting and interesting that everyone wants to play for him, so he can turn things around with one great recruiting/transfer offseason. Doesn't mean an Indiana turnaround necessarily, but as long as there is a bland (but nice...I really like him!) coach at the top, there will be a ceiling on the amount of guys we can attract. And there's already a whole other ceiling that we've all talked about ad naseum.

 

[Styre]

There are no free rides.

Yeah, no kidding. Remember how we're currently building the most expensive stadium in the history of college football?

 

[Eurocat]

We are in the Big Ten. We are at the table.

Thumbs up but we need to act like it with our NIL. Heck Army and Navy have them!

 

[FeralFelidae]

Thumbs up but we need to act like it with our NIL. Heck Army and Navy have them!

TrueNU?

 

[Jaguar 88]

Exactly. He gets another year because of last year. Next season is likely to be rough no matter what.

Don't fool yourself. The next 2-3 seasons will likely be rough, if not beyond that.

 

[Medill '03]

Don't fool yourself. The next 2-3 seasons will likely be rough, if not beyond that.

Agree. If NU fires Braun, 2026-2027 may not be much better.

 

[Vassar69]

Yeah, no kidding. Remember how we're currently building the most expensive stadium in the history of college football?

What is that worth in media negotiations? Because that’s how conferences value their members today.

 

[MD_CatFan]

No one "deserves" anything - it is what you earn. A new AD should bring about a new reset. This might be the time to get your guy(s) in place and own it. You spend 850 million for a new stadium and you get to showcase it with...this? But it'll get better, right? Don't you think you want to give a new group a year before getting into the new Ryan Field? Last year Braun did a fantastic job and he earned it. Is it harsh to say "Thank you and goodnight" after one season? Yes. But them's the facts and this ain't beanbag.

True NU better pony up hard because in this world if you don't have a QB that is in the top half of your conference you aren't going to win a damn thing.

 

[FanatiCat]

No one "deserves" anything - it is what you earn. A new AD should bring about a new reset. This might be the time to get your guy(s) in place and own it. You spend 850 million for a new stadium and you get to showcase it with...this? But it'll get better, right? Don't you think you want to give a new group a year before getting into the new Ryan Field? Last year Braun did a fantastic job and he earned it. Is it harsh to say "Thank you and goodnight" after one season? Yes. But them's the facts and this ain't beanbag.

True NU better pony up hard because in this world if you don't have a QB that is in the top half of your conference you aren't going to win a damn thing.

Yep, pony up is right. We can’t be “woe is me, we’re the always and forever underdog NU.” We will have perhaps the best/most flashy facilities in all of college FB to the tune of over $1 billion total. With revenue sharing we won’t have to rely totally on TrueNU, right? If we can get a QB, a WR and fill in some other holes we can get back on track.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I'm not saying anything novel here, but the way the season has (predictably) crumbled against OSU and Michigan doesn't bode well for Braun/Lujan (after next year) or Lausch (after this year). I like all of them. But now we know that NU will have to go to the transfer portal for QB yet again. Lausch doesn't have the best line or receivers or OC, but he's also not doing enough to warrant getting handed the job for next year. And Braun isn't likely to field a better team in 2025, barring some kind of shocking IU talent infusion. So that means he's got the most expensive CFB stadium of all time in 2026, and a new AD doesn't want to get stuck with a program in three years of decline and no sign of recovery. If you're gonna fire Braun, it's after 2025, not after year one of Ryan Field in 2026. If you're gonna lose big in the new stadium, it needs to be with a new coach who's plausibly building toward something. And they will need to completely turn the page on the Fitz regime, including all the staff he hired and developed.

Braun/Lujan and Lausch will have a chance to shock the world next year, or even next week. But that's what it will need to be at this point, a shock, and without the talent that Fitz had accumulated before they arrived.

With the Covid year gone, how many grad student QBs are out there that have eligibility?
Would have to be a guy who redshirted or got injured - and has actually graduated.
And then reasonably good grades.
If thats how we plan to get our starting QB, we may need a plan B. Or is Plan B named Jack Lausch?

Otherwise we need to look at smart kids from lesser programs who played and looked capable as underclassmen.
Or younger players that we offered a year or two ago who aren't getting playing time at their current school.

 

[phatcat]

The things that worries me are a) there has been no evidence of improvement. Objectively, the Cats are worse in all phases of the game than earlier this year and b) NU loses a shit-ton of players, some of whom are actually good. That doesn't count the inevitable portal losses that we don't seem to be able to turn into a net gain.

People say "the schedule though!!!" To which I call BS. We've lost to a bunch of middle of the pack teams and looked bad doing it.

 

[Jaguar 88]

We are in the Big Ten. We are at the table.

We are at the kiddie table at grandma's house on Thanksgiving, right next to Purdue and Maryland. We won't make it to the adult table til the NU administration makes up its mind to go all in on football and use NIL and the portal to build an actual program. Loosening the academic requirements for football players will work wonders.

 

[HailToPurple]

Loosening the academic requirements for football players will work wonders.

And degrade the university at the same time. It's a price that I would not be willing to pay.

 

[Vassar69]

Yep, pony up is right. We can’t be “woe is me, we’re the always and forever underdog NU.” We will have perhaps the best/most flashy facilities in all of college FB to the tune of over $1 billion total. With revenue sharing we won’t have to rely totally on TrueNU, right? If we can get a QB, a WR and fill in some other holes we can get back on track.

Yeah, except every other school is saying the same thing. They’re all going to revenue share to the max limit.

 

[hoosboot]

No one "deserves" anything - it is what you earn. A new AD should bring about a new reset. This might be the time to get your guy(s) in place and own it. You spend 850 million for a new stadium and you get to showcase it with...this? But it'll get better, right? Don't you think you want to give a new group a year before getting into the new Ryan Field? Last year Braun did a fantastic job and he earned it. Is it harsh to say "Thank you and goodnight" after one season? Yes. But them's the facts and this ain't beanbag.

True NU better pony up hard because in this world if you don't have a QB that is in the top half of your conference you aren't going to win a damn thing.

And my understanding is that the going rate for a Top 30 college starting QB is $1M-$1.5M per year. I saw a stat that said that in 2025 the Top 25 college quarterbacks will average more income than the bottom half of NFL QBs. 🥹

 

[Figrating]

The hazing scandal and the firing of Fitz have had a lot more effect than we thought. Lost players, lost recruits and Braun is playing this season with a team that can't compete.

Braun is not responsible. In fact he should be awarded the Croix de Northwestern with Shoreline Cluster for his exemplary work with the screaming mess he inherited.

IMHO, this coaching staff needs to show that it can recruit and develop players, as they have said they're going to do. If Braun turns in a .500 season next year, that would be spectacular and show that he knows what he's doing. Again.

He deserves the chance without sore-azzed jackals nipping at his heels.

Next season shows no direction, vaya con Dios.

 

[Jaguar 88]

And degrade the university at the same time. It's a price that I would not be willing to pay.

I appreciate that, but if the university doesn't adjust to the new realities of CFB, then it will end up looking rather stupid/foolish in its recent investments in the football program. A $850 million stadium that will not be filled and a practice facility that will be underutilized, makes it look like those in charge aren't sure what they are doing. Should NU have gone the route of Univ of Chicago and dropped sports? Univ of Chicago was the other university that got the ball rolling with NU in forming the B1G, and they opted out in the early 50's. There is a lack of vision with regards to NU leadership, and it will cost the university dearly.

 

[NUChicago]

I appreciate that, but if the university doesn't adjust to the new realities of CFB, then it will end up looking rather stupid/foolish in its recent investments in the football program. A $850 million stadium that will not be filled and a practice facility that will be underutilized, makes it look like those in charge aren't sure what they are doing. Should NU have gone the route of Univ of Chicago and dropped sports? Univ of Chicago was the other university that got the ball rolling with NU in forming the B1G, and they opted out in the early 50's. There is a lack of vision with regards to NU leadership, and it will cost the university dearly.

~60 board of directors will do that to ya. NU is very slow, I see them screwing this up.

 

[phatcat]

And degrade the university at the same time. It's a price that I would not be willing to pay.

I'm not sure I agree anymore. Duke was a respected, but not widely known regional school until Coach K put them on the map. By "admitting " a handful of one-and-done types that have no intention of graduating, they boosted to school to world class standards in admissions and donations

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Yeah, except every other school is saying the same thing. They’re all going to revenue share to the max limit.

Only in the B1G and SEC. I’ll take our chances against the mid tier in the B1G.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

The hazing scandal and the firing of Fitz have had a lot more effect than we thought. Lost players, lost recruits and Braun is playing this season with a team that can't compete.

Braun is not responsible. In fact he should be awarded the Croix de Northwestern with Shoreline Cluster for his exemplary work with the screaming mess he inherited.

IMHO, this coaching staff needs to show that it can recruit and develop players, as they have said they're going to do. If Braun turns in a .500 season next year, that would be spectacular and show that he knows what he's doing. Again.

He deserves the chance without sore-azzed jackals nipping at his heels.

Next season shows no direction, vaya con Dios.

His game day Coaching has regressed. Extremely questionable strategy and decision in many games.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

And degrade the university at the same time. It's a price that I would not be willing to pay.

Glad you are an Alum and not the AD.

 

[HailToPurple]

His game day Coaching has regressed. Extremely questionable strategy and decision in many games.

This has been a very disappointing aspect of the coaching this season. And particularly when the Cats are in scoring position inside the 20-yard line.

It's hard to tell whether these in game decisions are coming from Braun or his newly hired assistants, but either way they are on him.

 

[HailToPurple]

Glad you are an Alum and not the AD.

No doubt that NIL and other factors have changed the whole picture making it much harder to compete for top level talent. I'm just not willing to throw in the towel quite yet.

I think we might still be able to carve out our particular niche without significantly compromising academics. Not necessarily an easy task, but one still worth trying.

And if actually possible the next question becomes is Braun the best person to do it.

 

[Jaguar 88]

No doubt that NIL and other factors have changed the whole picture making it much harder to compete for top level talent. I'm just not willing to throw in the towel quite yet.

I think we might still be able to carve out our particular niche without significantly compromising academics. Not necessarily an easy task, but one still worth trying.

And if actually possible the next question becomes is Braun the best person to do it.

I think you can win and keep academic standards, but you will have to bring in a rather innovative coach like a Mike Leach, Cignetti type to get kids to come to NU and play. You are not going to win by bringing in these 3 star recruits anymore and if you aren't going to sacrifice academic standards, you better hit a home run with your HC and his staff. Braun doesn't look like he is that man unfortunately, and his staff isn't so hot either.

 

[MD_CatFan]

No doubt that NIL and other factors have changed the whole picture making it much harder to compete for top level talent. I'm just not willing to throw in the towel quite yet.

I think we might still be able to carve out our particular niche without significantly compromising academics. Not necessarily an easy task, but one still worth trying.

And if actually possible the next question becomes is Braun the best person to do it.

That is THE question of the moment - "Is David Braun the right man to lead the program into the future?" This year has been terribly disappointing and the team played soft and was not competitive in the second half in Ann Arbor in a must win game to maintain bowl eligibility. Braun's hires have not shown dividends this season and the play calling has been (in a word) suspect at best. Is good enough the correct expectation? Should the program aspire higher? I think given the Ryan Family and NU's investments into the program and Mark Jackson's focus on fundraising and maximizing investment into the program, the answer should be yes. We'll see.

 

[Eurocat]

Duke was a respected, but not widely known regional school until Coach K put them on the map. By "admitting " a handful of one-and-done types that have no intention of graduating, they boosted to school to world class standards in admissions and donations.

I regret I have only one thumbs up to give for that post. Better sports don't decrease but increase a schools rep, admissions (Colorado's applications have soared since Prime got hired), donations, "school spirit", etc. Even if we maintain current standards for all sports but a few (say Football and BBall and maybe loosen a bit for some of the Women's sports that do very well like Field Hockey, LAX, Tennis, etc) that is - a total of maybe 200 kids out of the 10,000 (if in the total you include NU Night School students which last I read are about 1000-2000 each year. That is about 2 percent (since we are using some rough numbers here) and not enough to affect our reputation. If anything it will be offset by the things I mentioned above like increased donations, etc.

And I do not believe anyone is suggesting we admit kids who can barely read or figure out two plus two. Just use the same standards used at Vanderbilt, Duke, Rice, Notre Dame (a school that is rapidly climbing in all sorts of rankings), Georgia Tech (a tougher school that many realize), Boston College, Rice and the Service Academies.

In fact one school that has an excellent reputation nationwide and even worldwide - sometimes even ahead of our ranking in surveys but at the same time is a school that admits pretty much anyone who can "ball" is Cal (Berkeley). Hasn't harmed their rep.

This is a ten year old article - but according to my friends in that part of the country, nothing much has changed -

Bad News Bears: Report dings Cal's strikingly low admissions bar for student athletes - Cal Alumni Association

If they were winning, the news might not seem so bad. But they’re not. And it is. Cal football is currently 1-10 on the season and has the worst-ranked defense in the country. As of the latest available statistics, they also have the lowest graduation rates of any BCS school—that is, of any...

alumni.berkeley.edu

Finally let's not overstate how tough our admissions are. Just about anyone in Chicago with a High School degree, a somewhat decent GPA in High School (or at a previous college) can get a NU undergraduate degree. Just attend SPS - colloquially what we would call "NU Night School". It would be inaccurate to say "they take anybody" but the admissions standards are most definitely lower/easier than they are for "day school" and that has not harmed our reputation either. Sure you lose out on what most of us would consider the true college experience, dorms. frats, working for the student newspaper or radio station, dozens of clubs, etc. But at the end of your studies you will have a NU degree to hang up on your office wall just like the day kids do. Again, not to belabor the point, admissions to SPS are very definitely lower than "regular" admissions. Hasn't harmed our rep til now!

We should start by telling ALL our coaches - you can now go after the same kids Duke and Vandy coaches do...and see what happens.